'Arrival' (Paramount)

By Sean Bello

‘Arrival’ is an absolutely magnificent film that crosses sci-fiction boundaries that will leave you spellbound. The film which received 8 Academy Award nominations was recently re-released in theatres to capitalize on its nominations. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth seeing on the big screen. The special effects and storyline are amazing. However, be warned, this is a film that requires more than one viewing. A better route might be for you to purchase the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-Ray Combo Pack which is now available.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve (‘Sicario’), ‘Arrival’ which will challenge the critical thinking of all filmgoers is based on the short story, "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang. For Chiang, science fiction is not about special effects or giant battles between the forces of good and evil. But, instead, science fiction is about using speculative scenarios as a lens to examine the human condition. Without giving to much away, make sure you keep this in mind while watching the film.

‘Arrival’ stars five-time Academy Award nominee, Amy Adams who had a tour-de-force 2016 with her brilliant performance as expert linguist, Louise Banks in this film and starring as Susan Morrow in Tom Ford's 'Nocturnal Animals.' The premise of 'Arrival' is, when mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team races against time to decipher their intent. As tensions mount between fearful governments, Banks discovers the aliens’ true purpose and, to avert global war, takes a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. Joining Adams in 'Arrival' is Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly, a physics professor who helps Adam’s character try to unlock the reason why aliens have arrived on Earth and Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker as U.S. Army Colonel Weber who oversees the military’s onsite operations in Montana near one of the spacecraft.

The film's Academy Awards nominations include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay (Eric Heisserer), Best Cinematography (Bradford Young), Best Film Editing (Joe Walker), Best Sound Editing (Sylvain Bellemare), Best Production Design and Best Sound Mixing. These are all worthy nominations and the engrossing special features on the Blu-Ray combo pack, gives the viewer the opportunity to get more in-depth explorations of the film’s subject matter through those responsible for making 'Arrival' possible.

'Arrival' by far was my favorite film of 2016 and viewers should take the time to watch the fascininating special features which will help educate the viewer beyond the storyline of the film and leave him or her asking even more questions about our existence on Earth.